Gaming Things We Think Are Cool!! - Games that have 'special appearances' from other game characters.
That's what this page is about.
Rules for inclusion on this page:
#1 - Only cases where the guest character is either a playable character, or an enemy, boss or interactable opponent, count. No straight-up cameos, such as background appearances, costumes, as shopkeepers, quest-givers, etc..
#2 - They must be from separate series- Ryo Sakazaki in Fatal Fury Special counts, for instance, but Hibachi in DoDonPachi Resurrection doesn't.
However, it's OK if they're in the same story continuity but originate from different series (like Street Fighter and Final Fight).
#3 - Games that are crossover games to begin with (Fighters Megamix, Super Smash Bros, etc.) don't count, unless the crossover game is between one particular company or series and other companies / series are represented, such as guests in Smash Bros., Cole in Street Fighter x Tekken, and so on.
#4 - NO MOBILE GAMES OR FORTNITE. No exceptions.
#5 - Ultimately... I make the final say on whether it ends up on this page or not. Please understand.
Rules for page presentation::
#1 - English titles first, Japanese titles second.
#2 - Presented in chronological order, except when dealing with a series (i.e. Oneechabara / Aero Fighters)
We'll run through all remaining titles in that series, then go back to year order.
#3 - We'll only be listing initial / relevant release platforms and years, for space concerns.
#4 - We've divided things into 1980-1994, 1995-1996, 1997-1999, 2000-2005, 2006-2009, 2010-2014 and 2015-Present (this page).
Click the links to skip around!
Skylanders: SuperChargers
(Playstation 3 / Playstation 4 / Xbox 360 / Xbox One / Wii U / iOS, 2015, Vicarious Visions)
Donkey Kong & Bowser
from Donkey Kong (Donkey Kong) - Arcade, 1981, Ikegami Tsushinki / Nintendo
& Super Mario Bros. (Bowser) - NES, 1985, Nintendo R&D 4
How to Unlock / Notes:
Placing a Turbo Charge Donkey Kong or Hammer Slam Bowser on the game's Portal of Power will summon them into your game.
You must also summon them with a vehicle, and they have their own vehicles, the Barrel Blaster and the Clown Cruiser (based on the Koopa Clown Car from Super Mario World) respectively.
All four toys have Dark variants.
Donkey Kong is assisted by Diddy Kong, and Bowser is assisted by Green & Red Koopa Troopas and Red Koopa Paratroopas.
Skylanders: SuperChargers Racing
(Wii, 2015, Beenox)
Donkey Kong & Bowser
from Donkey Kong (Donkey Kong) - Arcade, 1981, Ikegami Tsushinki / Nintendo
& Super Mario Bros. (Bowser) - NES, 1985, Nintendo R&D 4
How to Unlock / Notes:
Placing a Turbo Charge Donkey Kong or Hammer Slam Bowser on the game's Portal of Power will summon them into your game.
You must also summon them with a vehicle, and they have their own vehicles, the Barrel Blaster and the Clown Cruiser (based on the Koopa Clown Car from Super Mario World) respectively.
All four toys have Dark variants.
Skylanders Imaginators
(Playstation 3 / Playstation 4 / Xbox 360 / Xbox One / Wii U / Switch, 2017, Toys for Bob)
Crash Bandicoot & Dr. Neo Cortex
from Crash Bandicoot - Playstation, 1996, Naughty Dog
How to Unlock / Notes:
Placing a Crash Bandicoot or Dr. Neo Cortex on the game's Portal of Power will summon them into your game.
Crash is assisted by Aku Aku while Cortex is assisted by Uka Uka.
Nitroplus Blasterz: Heroines Infinite Duel
(Arcade / Playstation 3 / Playstation 4 / PC, 2015 / 2016, Examu / Marvellous)
Aino Heart & Homura
from Arcana Heart (Aino Heart)) - Arcade / Playstation 2, 2006 / 2007 / 2008, Yuki Enterprise
& Senran Kagura: Shoujotachi no Shinei (Homura) - Nintendo 3DS, 2011, Tamsoft
How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC characters, purchasable, debuted in the home console versions on the day of release.
They were later added to the arcade version in an update.
(Yuki Enterprise and Examu are the same company, for the record).
Senran Kagura: Estival Versus
(Playstation 4 / PS Vita, 2015, Tamsoft / Marvellous)
Ayane
from Dead or Alive (PS1) - Playstation, 1998, Team NINJA
How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, purchasable, released in April 2016.
When playing as her, the stage intro text is replaced with GET READY FIGHT and the stage clear text is replaced with K.O.
Her Level 1 Secret Ninja Art has her drop a car on the opponent, similar to a special attack in the Tokyo stage of Dead or Alive 5.
Senran Kagura: Peach Beach Splash
(Playstation 4, 2017, Honey Parade Games / Tamsoft / Marvellous)
Ayane, Marie Rose & Honoka
from Dead or Alive (PS1) (Ayane) - Playstation, 1998, Team NINJA
Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate (Marie Rose) - Playstation 3 / Xbox 360 / Arcade, 2013, Team NINJA
& Dead or Alive 5 Last Round (Honoka) - Playstation 3 / Playstation 4 / Xbox 360 / Xbox One / PC, 2015, Team NINJA
How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC characters, purchasable, released in October 2017.
Costume DLC based on their Dead or Alive 5 appearances (as well as Ayane's traditional butterfly dress and Kasumi's dress) are also available, either separately or as part of a pack with all the Dead or Alive content such as fans, banners, etc..
Even in English regions, this is listed as a collaboration with Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 specifically.
Super Sonico
Nitroplus's mascot, first used for a Nitroplus-sponsored music even in 2006
How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, purchasable, released in November 2017.
She comes with a new Aquarius costume made for the game (apparently? Can someone check this? Please~?) and her guitar necklace, as well as fans, banners, etc..
Her reason for attending the in-game tournament is that she's here by mistake, as she thought it was a gravure photoshoot.
Rinka Kagurazaka & Ranka Kagurazaka
from Valkyrie Drive -Bhikkhuni- - PS Vita / PC, 2015, Meteorise
How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC characters, purchasable, released in December 2017.
Costume DLC based on the Lorelei and Otohime costumes from the Paradise Swimsuit Set 2 DLC for Valkyrie Drive -Bhikkhun- are also available, either separately or as part of a pack with all the Valkyrie Drive -Bhikkuni- content such as fans, banners, etc.
Neptune
From Hyperdimension Neptunia / Choujigen Game Neptune - Playstation 3, 2010 / 2011, Compile Heart / Idea Factory
How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, purchasable, released in March 2018.
She comes with her D-Pad hair clips, choker and N necklace.
Costume DLC based on her Parka Dress costume from the original Hyperdimension Neptunia game is also available, either separately or as part of a pack with all the Neptunia content such as fans, banners, etc..
She's referred to as Goddess of Planeptune on the Shinobi Select screen and Neptune everywhere else.
All of these DLC characters can also be used in the game's store as the shopkeeper, or as the system voice for menus.
Trouble Witches Origin - Episode1 Daughters of Amalgam -
(PC, 2016, Studio SiestA)
Cotton & Silk
from Cotton: Fantastic Night Dreams - Arcade, 1992, Success / Sega
How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, purchasable, released in August 2017.
Silk accompanies Cotton as a helper option, like the original game.
Cotton & Silk are playable in every mode, come with their own fully-voiced Story Mode, have a Tea Time bonus segment from Cotton added to the end of stages, and selecting them replaces all the music with tracks from the original Cotton.
Crush Crush
(PC / Browser / iOS, 2016, Sad Panda Studios)
Info and screenshots provided by Matt - thank you!
Ayano Aishi / Yandere-chan
from Yandere Simulator - PC, Some Time After the Heat Death of the Universe, YandereDev
How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, free, added in October 2016.
Uppers
(Playstation Vita / PC, 2016 / 2020, Bullets / Tamsoft)
Daidoji
from Senran Kagura: Shoujotachi no Shinei - Nintendo 3DS, 2011, Tamsoft / Marvellous
How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, purchasable in the Vita version (Japan only).
Playable from the start in the Steam version (released worldwide).
Million Arthur: Arcana Blood
(Arcade / Playstation 4 / PC, 2017 / 2018 / 2019, Team Arcana / Examu)
Riesz
from Trials of Mana / Seiken Densetsu 3 - SNES, 1995, SquareSoft
How to Unlock / Notes:
Riesz is playable from the start in the arcade, Playstation 4 and Steam versions.
Koume Saiyama
from Lord of Vermillion IV - Arcade, 2017, Square-Enix
How to Unlock / Notes:
Koume is playable from the start in the Playstation 4 and Steam versions.
However, she cannot be used in Story Mode.
She was later added to the arcade version as part of an update.
Iori Yagami
from The King of Fighters '95 - Neo Geo, 1995, SNK
How to Unlock / Notes:
Iori is playable from the start in the Playstation 4 and Steam versions.
However, he cannot be used in Story Mode.
He was later added to the arcade version as part of an update.
Tekken 7
(Arcade / Playstation 4 / Xbox One / PC, 2015 / 2016 2017, Bandai Namco)
Akuma / Gouki
from Super Street Fighter II Turbo / Super Street Fighter II X - Grand Master Challenge - Arcade, 1994, Capcom
How to Unlock / Notes:
Akuma was added in Tekken 7: Fated Retribution, an update to the original 2015 arcade version of Tekken 7.
In the console versions, Akuma is available from the start.
He has a unique super bar mechanic, lifted from Street Fighter IV.
Geese Howard
from Fatal Fury: King of Fighters / Garou Densetsu: Shukumei no Tatakai - Neo Geo, 1991, SNK
How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, purchasable as part of the Season 1 series of updates released in November 2017, with his own stage included.
His home stage is Howard Estate, based on a recurring stage from Fatal Fury which has both the original version of Soy Sauce for Geese from Fatal Fury Special and a remix for Round 2 as music.
Geese was later added to Tekken 7: Fated Retribution in arcades as part of the Round 2 update.
He has a unique super bar mechanic, lifted from The King of Fighters XIV.
Noctis Lucis Caelum
from Final Fantasy XV - Playstation 4 / Xbox One / PC, 2016, Square-Enix
How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, purchasable as part of the Season 1 series of updates released in March 2018, with his own stage included.
His home stage is Hammerhead, based on Final Fantasy XV, which has both the original version of Stand Your Ground from Final Fantasy XV as well as a remix of Apocalypsis Noctis for Round 2 as music.
Noctis was later added to Tekken 7: Fated Retribution in arcades as part of the Round 2 update.
Senko no Ronde 2
Senko no Ronde 2: Reassembly from "DUO"
(Playstation 4 / PC, 2017, G.rev)
Valken
from Cybernator / Assault Suits Valken - SNES, 1992 / 1993, NCS Corp
How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, purchasable, released in November 2017.
The pilot is Jake and the support member is Crea, both also from Assault Suits Valken.
Temjin
from Virtual On: Cyber Troopers - Arcade, 1996, Sega AM3
How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, purchasable, released in November 2017.
The support member is Fei-Yen, also from Virtual On: Cyber Troopers.
SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy
(Arcade / Playstation 4 / Switch / PC, 2018, SNK)
Thief Arthur
from Kai-ri-sei Million Arthur - iOS / Android / Playstation 4 / Playstation Vita, 2015 / 2016, Square Enix
How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, purchasable, released in September 2018.
Skullomania
gender-swapped character from Street Fighter EX - Arcade, 1996, Arika
How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, purchasable, released in October 2018.
Bombergirl
(Arcade / PC, 2018, Konami)
Info provided by The Opponent - thank you!
Shiori Fujisaki
from Tokimeki Memorial - PC Engine CD, 1994, Konami
How to Unlock / Notes:
Obtainable via in-game gacha.
She is voiced by her original voice actress, Mami Kingetsu.
Her abilities are all references to mechanics or locations in Tokimeki Memorial, and she has her own Favourability Bomb mechanic inspired by the source game. [Skills Source]
Pastel
from Detana!! TwinBee - Arcade, 1991, Konami
How to Unlock / Notes:
Obtainable via in-game gacha.
She is voiced by her original voice actress, Hekiru Shiina.
Grim Aloe
from Quiz Magic Academy: The World Evolve - Arcade, 2017, Konami
How to Unlock / Notes:
Obtainable via in-game gacha.
Tsugaru
from beatmania IIDX 8th Style - Arcade / PS2, 2002, Konami
How to Unlock / Notes:
Obtainable via in-game gacha.
She is voiced by Rie Kugimiya
Chiamo
from Chase Chase Jokers - Arcade, 2022, Konami
How to Unlock / Notes:
Obtainable via in-game gacha.
Chiamo
from Mahjong Fight Girl - Arcade / Net Café, 2023, Konami)
How to Unlock / Notes:
Dia was added December 10, 2025 via in-game gacha as part of the "Mother Wars" cross-promotion event involving Mahjong Fight Girl, Bombergirl and Quiz Magic Academy. [Info Source]
All of these characters are part of the 573 Factory brand in-game.
Play Bombergirl officially by downloading the client on the official website, install guide available here.
Conga Master Cruisin
(Switch, 2018, Undercoders)
Clarice
from City Connection / Cruisin - Arcade, 1985, Jaleco
How to Unlock / Notes:
Japanese Cruisin Version Only!
Clarice is not available in the worldwide version, Conga Master Party!. While the DLC pack, Conga Master: The New Challengers, appears to have a selection of copyright-infringing guest characters, we won't count these as they don't seem to be properly licensed.
In the Japanese version, Conga Master Cruisin, Clarice is available from the start. Unlike The New Challengers guests, this version was licensed by City Connection.
This version also replaces the music for the Popolon stage with Conga Master Cruisin by Aurtas, a remix of the City Connection theme that was later included on the album Mirai Connection -CITY CONNECTION REMIXIES-.
Game Tengoku: CruisinMix Special
(Playstation 4 / Switch / PC, 2018 / 2019, City Connection)
Super Fighter
from Truxton / Tatsujin - Arcade, 1988, Toaplan
How to Unlock / Notes:
Special Version Only!
DLC character, purchasable, released in February 2019 and included as standard in limited physical editions.
The Super Fighter is piloted by Yuki, the game centre attendant from Game Tengoku rather than the original pilot, named Tom in the Mega Drive port's manual. [Ship Name Source]
Samurai Shodown
(Arcade / Playstation 4 / Switch / Xbox One / PC / Stadia, 2019, SNK)
Warden
from For Honor - Playstation 4 / Playstation 5 / Xbox One / Xbox Series / PC, 2017, Ubisoft Montreal
How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, purchasable, released in June 2020.
Gongsun Li
from Honor of Kings - iOS / Android, 2015, TMI / Tencent
How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, free, released in August 2020.
Hibiki Takane
from The Last Blade 2 / Bakumatsu Rouman Dai Ni Maku: Gekka no Kenshi - Neo Geo, 1999, SNK
How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, purchasable, released in April 2021.
When she is in play, the intro and outro round narration will change to be more like The Last Blade games.
Holding down Square (PS4) / X (Xbox) / Y (Switch) while selecting Hibiki will completely change her personality through her win quotes and mannerisms similar to how her personality will change depending on player actions in The Last Blade 2. [Source]
Baiken
from Guilty Gear - Playstation, 1998, Arc System Works
How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, purchasable, released in August 2021.
Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid
(Playstation 4 / Xbox One / Switch / PC, 2019, nWay)
Ryu & Chun-Li
from Street Fighter (Ryu) - Arcade, 1987, Capcom
& Street Fighter II: The World Warrior (Chun-Li) - Arcade, 1991, Capcom
How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC characters, purchasable, released in May 2021 and included as standard in the Super Edition.
Both characters wear Power Rangers costumes as standard- Ryu as the Crimson Hawk Ranger and Chun-Li as the Blue Phoenix Ranger- and both have a casual 'Angel Grove Class of '93' costume, while Ryu alone has a helemetless variant of his standard costume.
These characters are actually based on the versions of themselves that appeared in a Power Rangers / Street Fighter crossover event for the mobile game Power Rangers: Legacy Wars, also by nWay. [Source]
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
(Playstation 4 / Xbox One / Switch / PC / Stadia / Android / iOS, 2019, ArtPlay)
Info provided by Matt - thank you!
Aurora
from Child of Light - Multi-Platform. 2014 / 2018 / 2021, Ubisoft Montreal
How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, free and playable from any new save file, released in March 2022.
Puyo Puyo Tetris 2
(Playstation 4 / Playstation 5 / Xbox One / Switch / PC, 2020, Sonic Team)
Sonic the Hedgehog
from Sonic the Hedgehog - Mega Drive, 1991, Sonic Team
How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, free, released in January 2021
The game also includes Sonic skins for both Tetriminos and Puyos.
Shady Lewd Kart
(PC, 2020, Shady Corner Games)
Wild Woody
from Wild Woody - Mega-CD, 1995, Sega Multimedia Studio
How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, free, released in April 2024
He has a unique Story Cup intro and outro and unlockable art and panties.
Woody is voiced by his original voice actor, Joseph Kerska, and appears in the game with the disclaimer, "We are in no way associated with SEGA. The IP of Wild Woody has been given permission from the original creators of the Wild Woody series."
Mahjong Fight Girl
(Arcade / Net Café, 2023, Konami)
Info and screenshots provided by The Opponent - thank you!
Pine
from Bombergirl - Arcade / PC, 2021, Konami
How to Unlock / Notes:
Pine is available from the start. [Screen Source]
Shiori Fujisaki
from Tokimeki Memorial - PC Engine CD, 1994, Konami
How to Unlock / Notes:
Shiori Fujisaki was added August 9, 2023 as purchaseable from the e-Amusement website, along with her cut-in graphics (unlike almost all non-starting characters, nothing related to Shiori can be obtained in gacha).
She is voiced by her original voice actress, Mami Kingetsu.
The main theme of Tokimeki Memorial, "Motto! MOTTO! Tokimeki", is used as her riichi music. [Info Source] [Screen Source]
Grim Aloe
from Quiz Magic Academy: The World Evolve - Arcade, 2017, Konami
How to Unlock / Notes:
Grim Aloe was added October 31, 2023 via in-game gacha. [Info Source] [Screen Source]
Shiroe
from Bombergirl - Arcade / PC, 2021, Konami
How to Unlock / Notes:
Shiroe was added December 21, 2025 via in-game gacha as part of the "Mother Wars" cross-promotion event involving Mahjong Fight Girl, Bombergirl and Quiz Magic Academy. [Info Source] [Screen Source]
More information can be found on the official website.
Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising
(Playstation 4 / Playstation 5 / PC, 2023, Arc System Works / Cygames)
2B
from NieR: Automata - Playstation 4 / Xbox One / Steam, 2017 / 2018
How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, purchasable, as part of the Season 1 series of updates, released on February 20, 2025.
She has a unique SKL meter similar to the one in NieR: Automata to limit the use of Pod 042.
Her character theme is a GBVSR remix of Weight of the World, the main theme of NieR: Automata.
Night Slashers: Remake
(Playstation 4 / Xbox One / Switch / PC, 2024, Storm Trident / Forever Entertainment)
Liu Feilin
from Fighter's History - Arcade, 1993, Data East
How to Unlock / Notes:
Feilin is available from the start.
Return to the start!
Obviously, we can't take credit for spotting all these. So credits for powerful readers go here! Thank you all for helping make this page possible!
Itallics means they gave us info, Bold means they gave a screenshot, Both means they gave both.
davZZGndm: Rondo of Swords / Rondo of Deception
HokutoNoShock: Puzzle Bobble 3, Elevator Action Deluxe
>inobscurity: Windy x Windam, Gunbird 2
Motherplayer: Boombots
Scrollboss: Ultra Street Fighter IV
Kimimi: Lost Planet 2, Mitsumete Knight
Liam Ashcroft: Virtua Striker 2003, Sonic Riders, Le Mans 24
Kroogah: Super Meat Boy, Spelunky
Jake: Fighter Maker, Monster Maulers, Battle Garegga, Giant Gram: All Japan Pro Wrestling 2, Super Fire Pro Wrestling X Premium, Last Legion UX, Xevious 3D/G+, Fever S.O.S.
Ragey: Battle Tryst
LanceBoyle94: Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing, SKATE 3, Fight Night Round 2, International Track & Field 2000, Smash Court Tennis Pro Tournament 2, MotoGP, MotoGP 3, Urban Reign, Evolution Skateboarding, MLB Slugfest 20-04, Hot Shots Golf Fore!, NBA Street V3, SSX On Tour, Arkanoid DS, Renegade Ops
Matt: Motor Mayhem, Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy, Unreal Championship 2: The Liandri Conflict, Mario Kart 8, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, Crush Crush
mi-com: Last Legion UX
A. Calder: Kirby's Dream Land, Alleyway, Sonic 3D Blast, GORF, Bubble Bobble, Nemesis, Nemesis II, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, The Legend of Zelda
GoldS: Plump Pop, Extermination
Steven W. Hunt: NFL Blitz
Flapjack Rabbit: Nano Breaker
The Opponent: Bombergirl, Mahjong Fight Girl
Know any we've missed? Got screenshots for some we're missing 'em for?
Fire up your email account, type in themetalslug at gmail dot com and shout words at me to get it right!
Sigh.
